Making tie plates



" L. C. PRITNER ET AL MILKING TIE PLATES "Bi l ed Feb. 17. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a? beau-1210119 f 11 Ll' td Z lewzlsaPM.W

June 8,1926. I 1,587,553

L. "-c. PRITNER ET AL MAKING TIE PLATES Filed Feb. 17, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' 3X 59 g; l

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UNETED S'lA'lEEi rsszsss LINDSAY C. PRIINER AND LEWIS S. PAUL, F JOHNSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

MAKING TIE PLATES.

Application filed February 17, 1923.

Our invention relates to making tie plates which are used between the rails and ties of railroads, or making similar articles, after long rolled bars of steel or other metal from which they are to be cutand finished are delivered from a rolling mill or other-wise.

Our invention comprises various steps and apparatus for punching spike or other holes therein of any size, shape or location desired, and for shearing the long bar into short predetermined lengths, each of the size desired, and then, if required, cambering the plates in order to produce on each an upper surface which is convex so that the rail may have a central bearing thereon and press the tie plate uniformly on the tie when in use.

Tie plates of certain forms are provided with ribs against which one edge of the rail flange abuts in order to maintain the track gauge, and these plates are laid on wooden ties and provided with holes through which driven or screw spikes are inserted to hold the rails thereon by means of their flanges and to the ties. In certain cases these tie plates are required to be camber-ed; that is, made slightly convex on their upper surfaces, the curvature being in the general direction of the alignment of the rail, whereby the rail bears normally upon the central portion of each tie plate in order to prevent the rocking action of the tie plate on the tie and the consequent cutting and destruction of the tie which would otherwise be occasioned thereby. Such arrangement of the rail on cambered tie plates provides a good. support for the rail while allowing it to deflect or bend slightly due to the passage of the trains without disturbing the tie plates, cutting the ties, or causing undue stresses between the tie plate and the tie.

By means of our invention we supply tie plates or similar articles in the form of long bars to our apparatus, and which then, by its substantially automatic operation, punches holes in the plates, shears individual plates to predetermined widths, carries the punched and sheared plates forward, preferably step by step, from the punching and shearing apparatus and thus advances the individual plates to a cambering apparatus on the same machine, where each plate is tempera ily supported on a concave die, while a convex plunger is forcibly projected against the plate and causes it to assume the necessary curvature or camber, after which the plates automatically delivered from Serial No. 619,727.

the apparatus for inspection, bundling if IIGCGSSEH, and shipment.

The punching, shearing and eambering are all done on one machine, the various tools therefore being adjustably mounted thereon.

Having thus given a general description of our invention, we will now, in order to make the matter more clear, refer to the two annexed sheets of drawings, which form part of this specification, and in which like characters refer to like parts Figure l is a front elevation of the working parts of a machine with the top and bottom thereof omitted to permit clear illustration of the essential parts; Figure 2 is a top sectional plan view of the lower portion of that part of the machine illustrated in Figure 1 showing part of the frame of the machine in section, taken on the line IIH of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end elevation of the delivery or right hand end of the apparatus as shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure at is a vertical sectional elevation of a portion of the apparatus taken on the line IVIV of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a detail section of the spring spacing block and bracket arms taken on the line VV of Figure 4:; Figure 6 is a transverse sectional elevation through the delivery trough or bed taken on the line VI-VI of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a detail sectional elevation through the cambering plunger, top shear blade and their holders on the line VHVII of Figure 3, showing the devices for adjusting them, and Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the finished tie plates.

Referring now to the characters of reference on the drawings :1 is the frame of the machine, 2 the lower bed thereof, 3 is the movable rain which is adapted to be reciprocated or moved up or down by the rotation of a cam or otherwise as customary (these operating parts not being illustrated). 4: is a plate secured to the ram 3 and adapted to hold the punches, the top shear blade and the eambering plunger and to reciprocate the same during the operation of the machine. The plate 4 is provided with a dove-tailed groove 5 in which the punch holder 6 is adjustably mounted and held in any desired position, and 7 are the punches which are retained in the punch holder and may be secured therein by set screws or otherwise, and the size, number and arrangement of these punches may vary to suit the work to be donea 0n the lower bed 2 of the machine is mounted a die block 8, which is adapted to receive the dies 9 which co-operate with the punches 7 and have holes in them of the sizes and locations corresponding to the punches 7. Below the dies are openings 10 through which the slugs or punchings are adapted to be dropped and received in any convenient receptacle for removal from time to time. Secured to the bottom bed of the machine are the stripping brackets 11 of the form illustrated, and secured to these are the stripping bars 12, these bars being arranged above the dies to hold the bar as the punches are withdrawn by the upward movement of the ram 3, while suflicient space is left between the stripping bars 12 and the tops of the dies 9 to allow the tie plate stock bar 18 to be traversed longitudinally over the dies and between them and the stripper. 13 is a holder for the top shear blade 15, which is secured thereto by belts with countersunk heads as illustrated, the holder being adjustably mounted in the dove-tailed groove 5 and secured in any position desired by means of bolts as illustrated. The bottom shear blade 16 is mounted in its holder l t and is also adjustable in location, so that its cutting edge and that of the top blade will register, and be at the desired distance from the punches and other tools. These shear blades as shown have edges arranged substantially parallel to the plane of the surfaces of the tie plate bar to be cut, or conformingto the outline thereof, in order to produce clean cutting without bending the tie plates.

An adjustable stop 17 is provided which is adapted to contact with the end of the tie plate stock bar 18 in order to determine the width of the individual tie plate to be cut from the stock bar, and this guide is secured to a stationary part of the machine by the set screws 19 and is adapted to be adjusted in position; slotted holes therein being provided for this purpose as illustrated. A holder 20 is provided for the cambering plunger 2? having a hole 21 extending longitudinally therethrough and this holder is mounted in the dove-tailed groove 5 and secured in position by set bolts as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3. The cross bar ,3 is firmly positioned in the plate 4tand further secured thereto by means of set screws, particularly as illustrated in Figures 1 and l. A bolt which is provided with an e::- ternal thread, co-operating with the internal thread of the cross bar 23, is used for finely adjusting the position of the top shear blade holder 13 and the shear blade 15, after which they are further secured in position by vertical set screws, particularly as illus trated in Figure 7. The cambering plunger holder 20 is provided with an inclined groove or way 2 1 as particularly illustrated in Figure 7, and in this mounted the wedge 25, while the set screws 26, which are screwed in the holder, are adapted to linel y adjust the position of the wedge in order to allow the cambering plunger to be moved up or down in order to finally position it, after which it is firmly held in place by the vertical set screws as illustrated. As the ex tent of the camber or versed sine of the arc of curvature of the tie plate is only about one-sixteenth of an inch; this requires line adjustment of the cambering plunger, which is accomplished by means of the apparatus just described; The lower surface of the cambering plunger 27 is convex to approximately conform to the concave curvature of the bottom of the tie plate. A bottom concave cambering die 28 is provided, which is adapted to be set in registry with the camber plunger 27., this bottom cambering die being mounted 011 the lower bed 2 of the apparatus and adjustably secured thereto by tap bolts, particularly as illustrated in Figure 1. Guides or tillers are also provided between the cambering die 28 and the bot-- tom shear blade 16 in order to facilitate the sliding movement of the plates through the apparatus. Over these guide blocks 29 we arrange a pair of adjustingside guide angles 30, which are adapted to contact with the ends of the tie plates to further guide their .iovement through the machine, and these may be at suitable distances apart for the different sizes of plates. Secured to the apparatus is a delivery trou'gh or bed 31, which is preferably of shape to conform to the pie plates or of channel section to guide them in their movement therein. In orderto move the tie plates through the machine we provide the following appartus :Bracket arms 32 are secured to the plate a of the moving ram 3 and a spring block spacer 33 has trunnions 35 mounted in the bifurcated end thereof and is provided with a hole through which the connecting rod 36 passes. Springs 37 are mounted on the connecting rod 36 having washers 38 contacting with their outer ends and the tension of the springs and operating length of the rod 36 is adjustable by means of the nuts 39, which are screw threaded on the rod 36. These springs 37 add flexibility to this part of the apparatus and prevent shock to it, its attachments and the plates shifted thereby 1 during their movements.

The lower end of the connecting rod 36 is provided with an eye 10, which is pivotally mounted on the bolt ll secured to the crank arm 42. The crank arm is securely tired on the shaft 13, which shaft is mounted in the brackets M secured to the bottom frame of the machine, as illustrated particularly in Figures 1 and l. A crank lever is fixed on the shaft 413 and provided with a bifurcated end 16, in which is mounted the roller 48 on the pin or bolt 47. This roller is adapted to operate in the groove of the sliding connection as, which is secured to the sliding bar 51, which bar is thus adapted to be moved backward and forward longitudinally in and below the upper surface of the delivery trough 31, and has at its end an offset upwardly projecting portion 52, with thin upper edge, which offset isadapted to contact with the sides of the cut tie plates. This sliding bar is adapted to be moved backward or forward in the groove of the trough 31 and between the guide blocks 29 or way 53 in the lower portions of the trough 31.

ti t is a finished tie plate, which is bent, PHHCl'lG-Cl, sheared from the stock bar and slightly cambered as illustrated.

Our operation is as follows :Punches and dies 7 and 9 of desired shape, size and location having been set and secured in position in the machine in registry and adjusted at the right distance from the top and bottom shear blades 15 and 16 to produce tie plates of widths desired, the stop 17 is also properly set and the cambering plunger and die 27 and 28 having been located, adjusted and secured in position, the travel or throw of the sliding bar 51 is so adjusted that it will deliver cut and punched tie plates one at a time to the cambering appartus. The raw chine is then put in operation by a motor or otherwise, whereupon the ram 3 and attached parts reciprocate or move up and down. A long stock bar 18 is then inserted longitudinally in the apparatus above the punching dies 9 and below the punches 7 and between the stripper bars 12 and the dies 9, and its forward end, which may be rough or crooked, is punched for the first tie plate by the operation of the machine, the forward end not yet being over the shear blade. A mark is made to determine the forward edge of the first tie plate and the bar is then moved further until the mark is in line with the cuttingedges of the shear blades and the punches and the top shear blade then descend, cutting off the crop end of the bar and at the same time punching another series of holes in the tie plate which is next to the end one on the long bar. The bar is then fed forward until its now sheared end contacts with the stop 17, and is so continued to be fed at every stroke of the apparatus. The machine may operate continuously or may be stopped and started by the operator when desired, as customary in operating machines of this kind.

The first plate drops down on the guide blocks 29 and the bent end 52 of the sliding bar 51 contacts with the side of the tie plate nearest the shear blade and moves it forward. As the ram moves upward the stock bar is again moved forward until its end is against the stop 17 and another punched plate is sheared 0d and drops and the two tie plates are then moved forward by the step byv step action of the sliding bar 51. The arrangement of the cambering plunger and die is such that each tie plate is separately or individually deposited on the cambering die 28, and as the ram moves downward each tie plate is can'ibered by the plunger 27 and the die 28, and the operation proceeds by feeding the stock bar forward when the ram is up. The punching of the plate is first accomplished, then a tie plate is cut off by the shear blades 15 and 16 and then the punched and cut plate is moved forward step by step to the cambering die and plunger 27 and 28, whereupon each is cambered, and the plates are then delivered one by one by the step by step movement of the sliding bar 51 and conveyed in the trough 31 to the end of the apparatus and thence to a table, platform, or otherwise for inspection and bundling, or for other treatment or shipment as desired.

In order to accommodate tie plates of different widths the step by step movement of the sliding bar 51 may be adjusted by changing the position of the connecting rod 36 by moving it up or down by means of the nuts 39 to produce any amount of travel of the sliding bar 51, as may be desired, to accurately position each plate on the cambering apparatus.

The tie plate bar is preferably pushed against the stop at each stroke of the operating machine, and therefore each stroke of the machine punches one tie plate, shears off another one, and at the same time one is being cambered by the cambering plunger and die.

By cambering each tie plate separately after being cut from a long bar, uniform curvature can be given thereto, which would not be the case if this were done when one end of the tie plate is integral with the stock bar. After one bar is thus finished another may immediately follow, thereby making a substantially continuous operation.

The punch holder and punches, the stop and the cambering plunger and the die may be adjusted in position to operate upon tie plates of any desired forms or dimensions, and the throw of the slide bar 51 may also be adjusted to properly deliver these to the cambering punch and thence to the inspec tors and bundlers in continuous succession.

lVe prefer to adjust the punches and dies with respect to the shear blades so that the E punches are in the tie plate while the shear is cutting a previously punched tie plate therefrom, as this serves to regulate the location of the punched holes with respect to the edge of the plate, but we may also have the punches operate wholly or partly in advance of the shear knives, or vice versa if I desired.

The punches may also be of slightly different lengths, in which case they will act progressively and require less power than it the holes were all punched simultaneously, but we may punch all the holes at once or progressively as desired.

Although we have shown and described our invention as applied to a special form of tie plate and the cambering plunger, cambcring die and shear blades are made of such shape as to substantially conform thereto, we wish it understood that any form or shape of tie plate, either with or without ribs, or plain, or with any forms of teeth, indentations or projections can be treated similarly in our apparatus and the tools may be of corresponding conilormations.

Although we have shown and described our invention inv considerable detail, we do not wish to be limited to the exact and specitic details thereof, as shown and described, but may use such modifications in, substitutions for. or equivalents thereof as are embraced within the scope of our invention, or as pointed out in the claims.

lrl'aving thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. A. tie plate finishing machine. comprising punching, shearing and cambering apparatus and means for automatically conveying tie plates individually to and from the cambering apparatus.

2. A tie plate machine, comprising punching, shearing and cambering apparatus, all adjustably mounted, thereon, and means automatically operated by the movement of the mach ne,v adapted to convey sheared plates individually from the punching and shearing apparatus to. and from the cambering apparatus.

3. Tie plate finishing apparatus, comprising in one machine, punching, shearing and cambering apparatus adjustably mounted thereon, means, automatically operated by the movement of the machine, adapted to convey sheared plates separately fronrthe punching and shearing apparatus to and from the cambering apparatus.

a. A singletie plate machine having a bed and a reciprocable ram, with means for operating the same, punching, shearing and cambering apparatus adjustably mounted thereon, a delivery trough mounted on the bed. a sliding bar mounted in said trough and having an upwardly projecting por tion, and means, actuated by the movement of the ram, for reciprocating the ,same, whereby punched and sheared plates are delivered to and from the cambering apparatus.

A tie plate machine having a bed and a. reciprocable ram with means for operating the same, punching, shearing and cambering apparatus mounted. thereon, and a step by step conveyor actuated by and in harmony with the movement of the ram, whereby the punched and sheared plates are delivered separately to and from the cambering apparatus.

6. A tie plate machine provided with a single fixed bed and a single reciprocable ram, punching, shearing and cambering apparatus successively mounted thereon, an adjustable stop, adapted to contact with the end of a stock bar, arranged at a predetermined distance from the cutting edges of the shearing apparatus, and an automatic step by step conveyor actuated by and in harmony with the movement of the ram, adapted to separately deliver plates to and from the cambering apparatus.

7. The combination with a tie plate machine having a bed and reciprocable ram provided with punching, shearing and cambering apparatus mounted thereon, of a step by step conveyor comprising a bracket secured to the ram, a block provided with trunuions mounted near the end of said bracket, a threaded connecting rod passing through said block and adjustahly secured thereto by means of a pair of nuts and springs, one end of the connecting rod being pivotally mounted on a crank arm secured to a shaft, a lever arm secured to said shaft connected with a sliding bar having an upturned end portion adapted to deliver tie plates separately by av step by step movement to and from the cambering apparatus.

8. A tie plate machine, comprising a bed portion having punching dies, a bottom shear knife and a. cambering die adjustably mounted thereon, a reciprocable ram provided with punches, a top shear knife and a cambering plunger adjustably mounted thereon and adapted to register with the corresponding parts aforesaid, a delivery trough provided with a sliding bar having an ofiset portion adapted to contact with the edge of a tie plate and connected with the moving parts of the machine, being thereby adapted to transfer individual plates to and from the cambering apparatus by a step by step movement.

9. A tie plate machine, comprising a set of punching dies, a bottom shear knife and a cambering die adjustably supported on a fixed portion thereof, a reciprocating ram, a set of punches, a top shear knife, and a cambering plunger adjustably supported on said ram and adapted to register with the corresponding parts aforesaid, a stop adjustably' supported on the machine, adapted to contact with the end of a tie plate stock bar, a delivery trough provided with a slid ing bar mounted therein and having an otlset portion adapted to contact with the edge of a tie plate, and adjustable means connected to a. moving part of the machine adapted to automatically reciprocate said sliding bar, whereby individual plates are delivered from the punch and shear, to and from the cambering apparatus, in a step by step movement.

10. A tie plate machine, comprising a bed portion on which are successively and adjustably mounted one or more punching dies, a bottom shear knife and a cambering die, a reciprocable ram on which is adjustably mounted one or more punches, a top shear knife and a cambering plunger adapted to register with the corresponding parts aforesaid, a stop secured to the machine adapted to contact with the end of a tie plate bar, stripping means adjacent the punching dies adapted to hold the bar as the punches are withdrawn therefrom, a bracket secured to the reciprocable ram provided with a connecting rod pivoted thereto, a crank arm piv otally secured to said connecting rod, a shaft on which said crank arm is secured, a crank lever fiXedon said shaft, the end of which is provided with a pin connecting with a sliding bar, a deliver; trough in which said sliding bar is mounted, said sliding bar having an upturned end adapted to contact with the side of a tie plate, whereby, during the operation of the machine, tie plates are punched, sheared, cambered and automati- Cally delivered to and from the cambering apparatus.

In Witness whereof we hereunto aflix our signatures.

LINDSAY G. PRITNER. LEWIS S. PAUL. 

